Vol. 402 No. 8
114 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a dental service for adults no longer exists in County Roscommon giving rise to major difficulties for elderly people in particular, who because of fixed pension incomes cannot afford denture and other treatments; and if he will ensure that the Western Health Board are given adequate funds in 1991 to reconstitute this service.
A special additional allocation was made in the 1990 budget to enable the health boards to bring about an improvement in the provision of routine dental services for adults. In all £2.3 million has been allocated to the health boards for this purpose.
The Western Health Board have experienced difficulties in retaining and recruiting dentists in the Roscommon area. However the board have been conducting a recruitment campaign and are hopeful of making additional appointments in the new year. One health board dentist is providing such treatment at present while two private practitioners in the areas are also treating adults.
Given these difficulties the Western Health Board are concentrating on the treatment of elderly at risk patients at present, but as manpower resources become available the board will provide an expanded service. In addition the board are continuing to provide an emergency service on demand for the relief of pain.
